Bodies of three men killed in Abu Dhabi attack repatriated to India and Pakistan

Two Indians and a Pakistani died when Houthi rebels struck Adnoc’s fuel storage depot in Mussaffah

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  Relatives mourn near the coffin of Hardeep Singh, who was killed in the January 17 drone attack in Abu Dhabi. All photos: AFP

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  Punjab police officers and relatives stand near the coffins of Hardev Singh and Hardeep Singh, which were repatriated to India on Thursday.

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  Relatives of Hardeep mourn over the coffin at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport on the outskirts of Amritsar.

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  Two Indians and one Pakistani were killed in the blast on Monday. Six more people were injured.

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  Workers carry the coffin of Hardev Singh.

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  Relatives pay tribute in front of the coffin of Hardeep, a driver who was 29 years old.

Grieving families in India and Pakistan have received the bodies of the three men who died in the Abu Dhabi terrorist attacks.

The Indian embassy said the bodies of two men killed in the January 17 strike reached Amritsar in Punjab state in northern India on Thursday.

“The mortal remains have been repatriated,” Sunjay Sudhir, India’s ambassador to the UAE told The National.

The ambassador has spoken to the families to offer comfort and condolences.

“I have spoken to the next of kin of both the deceased and I have been in touch with them,” he said.

“It was a big shock to them as this happened without any warning."

The Pakistan embassy confirmed that the body of a man killed in the January 17 attack reached the country on Wednesday.

“The repatriation has been completed,” an embassy spokeswoman said.

Both embassies said the families were appreciative of the help provided by Adnoc and the UAE government.

The three died and six others were injured when Houthi rebels struck Adnoc’s fuel storage depot in Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, on Monday.

A second incident led to a fire in a part of Abu Dhabi airport where construction was being carried out.

Survivors have described the terrifying scenes they witnessed when tankers near them were enveloped in flames.

Police are investigating the strikes, including the possible involvement of aerial drones.

Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Khalifa, described the incident as a “heinous attack on civilian facilities,” and the Houthis as a terrorist militia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation said its thoughts were with those who died in the strike. It said in a statement it “reserves the right to respond to these terrorist attacks and this sinister criminal escalation."

World leaders have condemned the Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi and stood in solidarity with the UAE.

Abu Dhabi blast survivors recall moment deadly Houthi strike hit

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  Terror attack victim Said Noor Jabar Khan speaks to 'The National' about surviving the blast at the oil storage plant. All photos: Leslie Pableo for The National

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  Mr Khan is recovering in hospital in Abu Dhabi.

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  The blast sent debris flying into Mr Khan's shoulder, narrowly missing an artery between his arm and chest that, if hit, could have proved fatal.

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  Doctors removed shrapnel from Mr Khan's left shoulder.

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  Blast survivor Ramjan Mohhmad Rath, recuperating at home in Abu Dhabi, said he had never heard such a loud sound.

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  Mr Rath received 10 stitches in his left leg.

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  Mr Rath was standing near his lorry completing paperwork when the blast occurred.